Bob had been a lonely man ever since
His wife of fifty years had passed.
“Lord, let me join her.” he would pray.
“Let this day be my last.”
Each day, he went to the cemetery,
Just a short walk down the street.
After their talk, he would water her flowers
And hear passers-by whisper, “How sweet.”
One gray and misty morning,
He had hoped for sunnier skies
To plant fall bloomers at her graveside;
But, there, to his surprise…
Stood an old dog beside her stone;
Thin and dirty, but he struck a handsome pose.
He whined as Bob approached, as if to say,
“I could use a friend, you know.”
He sat calmly as Bob planted flowers,
Carefully sniffing each one Bob put in place.
Then, after the last one was planted,
He sniffed it; then turned and licked Bob’s face.
Bob smiled. “I had a dog when I was young…
Pal…he was a mighty good one too.
So, if you don’t mind old fella,
That’s what I’ll call you.”
Pal may have been an old dog,
But he was smart and handsome in his way;
So they made a deal, Bob would give him a meal
And a bath, if he decided to stay.
Pal loved his bath, then rolled in the grass.
He slept on a blanket in the den.
In the night, he dragged it next to Bob’s bed.
He intended to be Bob’s best friend.
Pal was such a good dog, housebroken too;
Never made a mess or got in trouble.
He knew about newspapers, slippers and Frisbees;
And when Bob called, he ‘d come on the double.
Yes, Pal gave Bob’s life new purpose.
A special bond of friendship was cast.
And never again did Bob pray,
“Lord, let this day be my last.”
For twelve years, the very best of friends,
Together night and day;
And so it was, until one night,
Both quietly passed away.
The next morning, an old woman,
Tears welling in her sad and lonely eyes,
Brought flowers to her husband’s grave;
But there, to her surprise….
Stood an old dog beside the stone,
Thin an dirty, but he struck a handsome pose.
He whined as she approached, as if to say,
“I could use a friend, you know.”
He sat calmly as she took old flowers
And put fresh ones in their place.
He carefully sniffed the fresh ones,
Then turned and licked her face.
She smiled. “I had a dog when I was young...
a good one too. His name was Pal.”

The Fanatical Dog Lover
By Elton Camp
Dog ownership has much to commend
Fido can be a companion and friend
From his master, he will never swerve
Giving love even when it’s not deserved
This isn’t written, canines to condemn
But to rebuke any too devoted to them
Sue is one of those about whom I write
Her several dogs are a shame and a fright
Her husband works to get what they need
She spends far too much buying dog feed
Their veterinary bills are a major expense
It makes her husband wish he were hence
Sue tells him that her dogs are her delight
To begrudge spending on them isn’t right
Plus, she thinks that he shouldn’t care
That the house is rife with dog hair
On their bed, Sue lets the dogs sleep
But poor hubby mustn’t say a peep
And just as she’s done many times before
Sue finds there is room for just one more
For in the classified an ad does say
“To a good home, a dog to give away”
Her husband gives out a disgusted shout
Packs his bags and angrily moves out
Sue says, “To do that there is no excuse.
For one who hates dogs, I have no use.”
Before the poor fellow finally re-wed
He decreed, “No dogs in house or bed!”